New information emerges in Upper Darby baby kidnapping, murder

A shovel and child’s car seat were seized by police from the trunk of a Lincoln Continental that police believe a Windsor Township, York County, man drove from his parents’ Upper Darby home when he allegedly kidnapped his girlfriend’s baby, according to newly released documents.

Ummad Rushdi, 30, is accused of killing his girlfriend’s 7-month-old son, Hamza Ali, and burying the body in an unknown location. The body of Hamza Ali has not been found, despite a widespread search.

Police said previously they believe Rushdi left his parents’ house in a Lincoln Continental that belongs to his brother, Jawwad Rushdi. The Lincoln was found by Columbia police around 4 p.m. Aug. 4 near the intersection of routes 441 and 30, where it was stuck in the mud. Jawwad Rushdi told police Ummad Rushdi called him sometime between Aug. 4 and Aug. 6 and admitted he killed baby Hamza, then buried his body somewhere in York County. However, Ummad Rushdi did not tell Jawwad Rushdi where.

Among the 27 items police seized from the vehicle were an opened box of vinyl disposable gloves that were found in the trunk, where the box had a brownish stain or mark on it, according to a search warrant.

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Additionally, police found and seized several Walmart receipts from inside the vehicle, according to the search warrant. Two of the receipts were for a Walmart in Parkesburg, a borough along Route 30 in Chester County. One receipt, for merchandise valued at $6.60, was dated Aug. 4 at 4:22 a.m. The other receipt, for merchandise valued at $1.97, is dated Aug. 4 at 4:37 a.m. A third Walmart receipt found inside the car was for a Walmart location in York, and it was for $1.67 in merchandise and dated Aug. 4 at 8:47 a.m.

Other items taken from the car include a plastic bag containing dark gloves, taken from the trunk; a child’s shirt stuck to a plastic glove found in the pouch of the rear of the front passenger’s seat; carpet samples from the front passenger’s side floor and the front driver’s side floor; a carpet sample from the rear driver’s side floor; and a “soil/vegetable sample” from the undercarriage of the vehicle, according to court papers.

Ummad Rushdi has been charged with kidnapping baby Hamza. ZainabGaal, the boy’s mother, told police the baby and Rushdi went missing from Rushdi’s parents’ Upper Darby home on Aug. 4. She told police Rushdi woke her during the early morning hours looking for his keys and the items in his pockets. When she woke at 10 a.m., Rushdi and her baby were gone from the residence.

During a press conference Thursday, police said Rushdi has not told anyone where he buried Hamza’s body, including Gaal, who has asked him at least 50 times.